18 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. 



as large as the top of your finger, will drive 

 all the roach away from him, just as a large 

 dog drives a flock of sheep, notwithstanding 

 the very great desire he may have to catch 

 some of them ! If the fish are on the feed, and 

 your tackle is rightly adjusted, you will have a 

 bite very soon after you begin to fish. Strike 

 the moment you see your float affected, letting 

 the movement be made with the hand only, 

 from the wrist, not from the arm, and turning 

 the point of your rod upwards. Don't wait 

 until you think the fish has swallowed the 

 bait, because as soon as he finds it is attached 

 to something, he will blow it out of his 

 mouth, unless he be very hungry, which is 

 not often the case; and remembering, that 

 your float cannot be affected by him, unless 

 he has your bait between his lips. Do not 

 forget also, that the largest fish generally 

 bite in the most cautious manner. As soon 

 as you have hooked a fish, little or big, keep 

 a tight line on him, your rod being raised 

 directly over him. If he be large and pub 1 

 well, don't be afraid of him, for if you keep 

 your rod up over him, he must pull tremen- 

 dously to break you, though your tackle be 

 of such a delicate order. Your hair when 



